Ocean City, Maryland
The Town of Ocean City is a 10-mile island located between the Atlantic Ocean and the Assawoman Bay. The town has earned several accolades over the years, most notably it was voted one of Trip Advisor’s Top 10 Beaches and also earned a spot on the Travel Channel’s list of Top Boardwalk Locations in the United States.
The pristine beaches are open to the public and are free of charge. They are safely monitored, thanks to the Ocean City Beach Patrol whom can be found on duty daily between 10 a.m. and 5:30 pm, during the Summer Season. Surfers are welcome to enjoy the beaches as well, just be sure to check daily for the Ocean City Beach Patrol report, which will provide the location of that day’s surf beach.
There is always something exciting going on in sunny Ocean City, MD thanks to the numerous festivals and events, which can be found entertaining visitors here year-round. The beginning of the year, always kicks off with the Reach the Beach Cheerleading Competitions, the Seaside Boat Show, the Ocean City Hotel Motel Restaurant Trade Show and the always entertaining St. Patrick’s Day Parade. As the weather begins to warm up, it seems to correlate with the events heating up as well. The exciting events continue into May, as Ocean City is host to Springfest, Cruisin’ Ocean City, Raven’s Beach Bash and an awesome Memorial Day Weekend celebration.
Once Summer has arrived you’ll find entertainment daily throughout the town, but most notably along the 2.5-mile Boardwalk. The Fireman’s Parade, OC Air Show, free movies on the beach, concerts and beach fireworks can all be found along this stretch. Take in the skyline from the iconic Ferris Wheel which can be found at the Jolly Roger at the Pier or be thrilled while riding the Tidal Wave Roller Coaster at Trimper’s Rides and Amusements. We guarantee that fun will be found along these wooden boards!
As the season winds down, September brings along events such as the OC Bikefest, Kite Festival, Sunfest, Wine on the Beach, Endless Summer Cruisin’ and Corvette Weekend. Last, but not least, Ocean City ends its year of fun with the Christmas Parade and the magical Winterfest of Lights.
Ocean City has so much more to offer than just events, with hundreds of restaurants and bars good food and drink can always be had. We highly recommend you try dining at one of the many “all you can eat” crab buffets, such as Phillip’s Seafood, Hooper’s Crab House or Key West Crab Bag. Try a Maryland crab cake from The Crab Cake Factory or Coin’s Pub. No matter what, do NOT leave home without sampling Thrasher’s French Fries, Dolly’s Taffy, Dumser’s Ice Cream or some of Fisher’s Caramel Popcorn.
After enjoying all that delicious food, then be sure to wash it all down with a visit to Seacret’s for a “Pain in de Ass”, Harborside for an “Orange Crush”, Fish Tales for a “Big Fish” or M.R. Ducks to “Chug a Duck”! Not only do all of these locations offer outstanding drink selections, but they also offer the best views of the bay!
Ocean City looks forward to providing you endless entertainment options and hopes to welcome you back time and time again.
Fenwick Island, DE
This quaint sleepy beach town is located just North of the Maryland-Delaware border, away from the hustle and bustle of Ocean City, MD. It’s known for its more laid back and relaxing environment and only stretches 3 miles, so don’t blink or you just might miss it.
Although Fenwick Island may be small, it most definitely does not lack in quality restaurants and shopping experiences! Dining at Catch 54, Just Hooked, One Coastal or Harpoon Hannah’s will satisfy your cravings for a delicious seafood dining experience.
Walk through history with a visit to the Fenwick Island Lighthouse which has been protecting seafarers since 1859 and is still in operation today. Additionally, you’ll note several WWII Observation Towers along the Delaware coast line. These were key to defending the American coast during WWII. Today these towers mostly sit abandoned and forgotten, but one has actually been restored and allows tourists to see a panoramic view of Cape Henlopen from inside its walls.
We all know that you can’t return home from vacation without an assortment of souvenirs and Fenwick Island most definitely will not disappoint your shopping desires. Be sure to visit The Village of Fenwick, Pottery Barn, Seaside Country Store and remember Delaware is tax free, so shop ‘til you drop!
Berlin, Maryland
Just West of Ocean City, MD sits the town of Berlin, MD whom was voted “America’s Coolest Small Town” in 2014 by Budget Travel. The town has so much to experience and has been living up to that “cool” reputation ever since. Main Street Berlin offers a unique opportunity to visit an area filled with boutique shopping, mouthwatering dining options and many eclectic events.
Stroll through the Berlin Printery and take home a one of a kind art piece, blow your own glass at Jeffrey Auxer Blown Glass & Fine Art Studio, or make your kids dreams come true with a visit to World of Toys. Handmade items can be found at Heart of Gold Kids, House by Salvaged or even Inca Ruins.
Once you’ve worked up an appetite with all that shopping, we recommend visiting one of Berlins fabulous restaurants. The Blacksmith, Rayne’s Reef, Crush-N-Crab, DiFebo’s or The Globe Restaurant are all excellent options for a great dining experience. Burley Oak Brewery will provide you with an excellent assortment of hand crafted beers, which are constantly being updated. For desert we recommend a Peach Dumpling from Baked Dessert Café, a Milkshake from Rayne’s Reef or possibly some hand dipped ice-cream from Island Creamery.
Stumble into Berlin, MD on the 2nd Friday of any given month and you’ll find yourself in the middle of an Art Stroll. Summer activities include the hilarious Bathtub Races in June, an amazing 4th of July Fireworks Celebration and you will stay entertained in August by the Berlin Peach Festival.
As you end your adventure in Berlin, MD you might have this nagging feeling that you recognize this cool small town from somewhere and guess what, you’re right! Berlin, MD was the setting for not one, but two movies. The town welcomed stars like Julia Roberts and Richard Gere for the filming of Runaway Bride and not long after that was also the setting of the movie Tuck Everlasting.
A trip to Berlin, MD is not complete without testing your luck at the Casino at Ocean Downs, which is the home to Live Harness Racing, 100’s of slot machines and live card games. If gambling is not for you, then take the more relaxed visit to Assateague Island National Seashore to hike the trails, breathe in the salty air or catch a glimpse of the wild Assateague horses.
There is most definitely something for everyone in Berlin, MD, be sure to visit soon!